WORLD BUSINESS BRIEFING; France: Unions Agree To Job Cuts

By BLOOMBERG NEWS

Published: September 13, 2007

Labor unions at Alcatel-Lucent, the telecommunications equipment maker, agreed to job-reduction plans in France, ending protests that included disruption of the company's shareholder meeting in June. The union, the Conf?ration Fran?se D?cratique du Travail, said the company agreed to create more new jobs than originally envisioned and to pay ''proper'' severance. Alcatel-Lucent will create 473 new positions in France, a spokesman said. Alcatel-Lucent, which is based in Paris, said in February that it intended to cut 1,468 jobs in France by the end of next year, part of a plan to cut 12,500 jobs worldwide.